Descubra la tasación y los precios de esta y más obras de arte africano en Africartmarket. Teddy Roosevelt'S Cased Compass, 1909

Descripción : Teddy Roosevelt's Cased Compass - Used on his Safari to Africa. 2. 5in diameter combination compass, barometer thermometer and altimeter Instrument is 1.20in thick, brass case w/ worn original gun metal finish, two silver faces, w/ black printing on faces. Barometer/thermometer face marked Tiffany & Co. New York. Metal case with a pocket watch type ring at top for attachment to watch chain if desired and an exterior compass needle lock. Side of brass case inscribed President Theodore Roosevelt From An Old Time Friend Alfred Hodges February 22, 1909 Complete w/ a beautifully hand stitched fitted leather case, w/ hinged side mounted lid w/ encircling belt strap closure. Leather case stamped w/ T.R. in bold block letters. Crystal cover of barometer cracked. Both silver faces have light toning at edges and leather case w/ very minor scratches and belt cracked but not broken. Original blue/black finish on compass case worn, circa 20-30% remaining. Compass needles floats and works fine Even before the end of Teddy Roosevelt's second term as President, he was already making plans for a grand adventure. In a series of letters to various explorers and big game hunters, T.R began laying the groundwork for an African safari. By the late fall and winter of 1908, the national press was already carrying stories about the impending trip. Roosevelt was keenly aware of the criticism of the safari from those who saw it only as blood sport. Through an agreement with the Smithsonian Institution, Roosevelt was to pay for all expenses, and donate all specimens. For their part, the Smithsonian sent Dr. Edward Mearns 1856-1916 , a U.S. Army Naturalist to accompany the safari. Mearns was the principal scientist on the trip. A remarkable naturalist, with a long and distinguished career he was well suited for the safari. A New York state native, and an Army man, Mearns was also probably a highly compatible companion for Roosevelt, and it seems probable that he was already known to the President before the safari. By the time Mearns made the safari, he had already collected in excess of 30,000 specimens for the Smithsonian during expeditions ranging from the U.S.-Mexico boundary to the Phillipines. Today, The Smithsonion curates nearly 12 linear feet of Mearns' writtten records. Preparations for the trip were exhaustive, and Roosevelt was besieged by well-wishers and newspapermen before he left the states. One of these was an old friend, banker and New York Assemblyman Alfred Hodges. In a letter dated February 22, 1909 Hodges wrote: My dear Roosevelt: Herewith I send to you a compass, an aneroid barometer and a thermometer all contained in a gun matal [sic] case and a leather case for convenience in carrying. It seems to me that this will be extremely useful to you in Africa and I ask you to accept it for old times sake. Hoping you will have a successful expedition and return home safely and in good health I am, Very Cordially Yours, Alfred Hodges. [Library of Congress Roosevelt Papers] Two weeks later, Roosevelt replied: My dear Hodges: That is a very beautiful and useful gift you have sent me. I prize it and prize the inscription on it. With hearty thanks and regard, believe me, Sincerely Yours, Theodore Roosevelt [Library of Congress Roosevelt Papers] Descended through the family of Edward Mearns. Through a New Yorker, Mearns married Ella Wittich, a Circleville, Ohio native. At Mearns' death in 1919, Ella, and their two children Lillian, and Louis resided in Circleville. Lillian survived until 1949, the compass was acquired by the present owner from the Wittich family in the early 1990s. A remarkable artifact directly associated with one of our most colorful American Presidents With a copy of Roosevelt in Africa, Frederick Seymour, 1909 Mearns is noted in the book and illustrated with Roosevelt on the cover. Together with documentation from the Smithsonian Institution, The Library of Congress and The Houghton Library covering Mearns, Hodges and Roosevelt, and other appropriate records.
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